The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-07-22
THE PENSION CONTROVERSY.

An Inspired Article clasn,se mat shs
President and Hh AaminIstrataea Havs
Acted 0eaerously and Fairly Towars
Grand Array MeA.
WAsnIxGToN, July l5.-An article il pub
lished this morning defending the Presi-
dent and the administration aeainst charRes
made by dissatisfied Grand Army men.
The article il evidently inspired and en-
aesvors to prove BY facts and figures that
tAe President has generously treated the
Old soldiers Of the Republic. The following
are the salient points:
A number Of partisans and few claim agents
N Washington are labofing TO con, ince the
country that President Cleveland Is IN enemy
70 Cnica soldiers and opposed to liberal PEN
sion legislation Il the charge true? Let MS
zee What the ofacial records disclose on this
subject President Grant from 1870 TO 1877 in
elusive. . period OF eight years, approved as
private pension acts; President Eayes hon
lS1s TO 1881 Inclusive, period Of four years, ap-
proved 33 private pension acts; Presidents
Garfield and Arthur from 1882 TO 1885 inclusive,
= period Of four years, approved sa6 private
pension acts; President Cleveland from 1876 to
1851 inclusive, period OF only two years. has
approved SO private pension acts This is
seventyse more than Presidents Grant anc
Hayes approved In twelve years and l27 more
than Presidents Garfield and Arthur approved
In four years. These figures are taken from
the statutes Of the United States and are cor
rect.
What else has President Cleveland done for
Union soldiers and their widows, orphans and
dependent relativess First. he has appointed
more ex- Union soldiers TO Office than any other
President He approved the act of March 10
lsf6, Which increased to s1s per month the pen
sion Of -. 30 widows. minors and dependent rel
attves OF Union soldiers OF the late war. He sp-
proved the act OF August T. lsls6. which increased
the pension Of o0D crippled and MANNED Union
soldiers Of the late war from 81 to SO from 80
70 eas and from - and 81 to e45 per month
He approved the act of January q, 1881, which
placed on the pension rolls over - 90 survivors
and widows of the war with Mexico. This is
the official record OF President Cleveland upon
the subject Of pensions to soldiers, and has been
made in the FIRST two years of his administra-
ton This record is unassailabie and no amount
OF reckless denunciation and abuse can break il
down.
Against this the enemies Of President Cleve-
land can point to nothing which they disapprove
except his vetoes OF Is3 unjust private pension
acts and the veto Of the Dependent Pension
bill That he was right in vetoins every one Of
these private pension bills q reading OF the
vetoes and IN examination OF the records in the
case viii show, and the veto OF the Dependent
Pension bill was demanded almost unanimously
by the press OF the country as well as by think
ing men Of all parties, both in and out OF the
ranks Of the Union soldiers.
What has been done in two years in the Pen
sion Once under the administration OF Commits
sioner Black. From July /, 1885 to June 81.
1887, inclusive. period OF two years, 26s.ee.
pension certificates of ali classes were issued;
from July l, 1883, to June 30, 1893, inclusive. a
period of two years. II, 517 pension certificates
OF all classes were issued-being an increase Of
under Democratic rule over the preceding two
years Of Republican rule From July 1885.
to June 10, 1887. inclusive, there were disbursed
account OF pensions. size 5S4 27O IS: from july
I, 1888, to June 3D. 1885, a period of two years
there were disbursed on account of pensions
slssa e677 ,ai3. 4s-being an increase Of sl5.
61I,06.99 for the first two years
under Democratic administration over the
last two years under a Republican administra-
ton On July /, 1854 there were 3r,.55s pen
sioners upon the rolls; on July l, 1885, there
were upon the rolls 34s. i25 pepsioners-being a
net increase to the rolls during the last two
years under Republican rule of II ,i61: on July
l. 1857, there were upon the rolls fully 4o2, 0n
pensioners-a net gain to the rolls during the
first two years under Democratic rule OF SO s15.
or Is, 40s more Of net gam to the rolls during
the first Two years of President Cleveland ad
ministration than the last two years OF Presi-
dent Arthur's administration. and this in the
face of the fact that the clerical force has been
reduced I24 within that time and that the death
rate among the soldiers is rapidly increasing ss
years go by.
During the fiscal year ended June 30. 1885,.
ll2.35) certificates of all classes were issued by
the Bureau of Pensions. of which 55.Ie4 were
original The highest number OF original GER
tificates ever issued in one year before was in
1856, when there were 50,11. 50 that the mum
Der OF original certificates issued during the
year Just closed is 5,ol7 in excess OF the high
est number ever before issued in the history Of
the bureau. The fruits o; the administration of
President Cleveland show beyond cavil that the
Union soldiers OF the country never had bet
ter friend.